Janice was looking forward to the arrival of the little lake steamer to-day with almost as much expectancy as she felt when she first saw Polktown. Daddy had written from Mexico that she could look on this day for a great surprise to arrive by the Constance Colfax.
“The greatest and most lovely surprise in the world,” sighed Janice, looking from the kitchen door as the pork was sizzling in the pan, and Mrs. Day was deftly turning the johnny-cakes, “would be dear Daddy himself coming to Polktown. But, of course, that cannot be for a long, long time.
“I must be patient. I mustn’t look for that. But, goodness me, how curious I am to know just what it is he’s sending me!”
CHAPTER II
A VISTA OF NEW POSSIBILITIES
The family sat down to breakfast, and Mr. Day said grace.
He was a spare, gray-faced man, with watery and wandering eyes. Jason Day had never moved quickly in his whole life; but there had been much improvement in him, as well as in the remainder of the family, since first Janice had seen him standing on the dock to welcome her on her arrival at Polktown.
“Great doin’s to-day, I s’pose, Niece Janice,” he said, with rather more humor in his light eyes than they usually displayed.
“That rhinoceros Uncle Brocky is sending her arrives to-day,” chimed in Marty, broadly agrin.
“Wa-al,” observed Mr. Day, with the naturally critical feeling of one brother for another, “Broxton Day has spent some of his money, I kalkerlate, almost as foolish as buying rhinoceroses. He spiles you, Janice, with all the money he’s sent for you to scatter around.”
“Now, Jason Day!” exclaimed Aunt ’Mira, quite vigorously for her, “you be still! You know you don’t mean that. Don’t you mind him, Janice.”